Periclimenes rathbunae
Size
To 2.5cm.
Description:
Ovearall often translucent, especially juveniles, and can change the degree of such according to background/ host. May have olive tinges. Adults may have red to brownish plus white spots and patterning on carapace and saddle of abdomen. These colours may appear as bands on walking legs, tail (telson and uropds) and chelipeds (claw arms). Dark accessory spot on dorsal side of eye.
Ecology
Epibiotic, living among the tentacles of a sea anemones, including the Corkscrew Anenome (Bartholomea annulata), Giant Anemome (Condylactis gigantea) and Sun (Carpet) Anemone (Stichodactyla helianthus). Has also been reported on Pillar Coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus).
Feeds on the mucus and tentacles of host anemone, but protects it from predation from e.g. annelid fireworms, resulting in overall benefit to the host, hence a case of mutualism rather than commensalism in symbiotic terms.
Found at depths from 3 to 60ft (1-18m).
Life Cycle:
No evidence of any form of hermaphrodism. This species has continuous reproduction (iteroparous). It produces a relatively high number of offspring when compared to other pontoniine species. Egg/ initial embryo numbers average 289 ± 120 (female size dependent), with ~24% loss during development.
To 2.5cm.
Description:
Ovearall often translucent, especially juveniles, and can change the degree of such according to background/ host. May have olive tinges. Adults may have red to brownish plus white spots and patterning on carapace and saddle of abdomen. These colours may appear as bands on walking legs, tail (telson and uropds) and chelipeds (claw arms). Dark accessory spot on dorsal side of eye.
Ecology
Epibiotic, living among the tentacles of a sea anemones, including the Corkscrew Anenome (Bartholomea annulata), Giant Anemome (Condylactis gigantea) and Sun (Carpet) Anemone (Stichodactyla helianthus). Has also been reported on Pillar Coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus).
Feeds on the mucus and tentacles of host anemone, but protects it from predation from e.g. annelid fireworms, resulting in overall benefit to the host, hence a case of mutualism rather than commensalism in symbiotic terms.
Found at depths from 3 to 60ft (1-18m).
Life Cycle:
No evidence of any form of hermaphrodism. This species has continuous reproduction (iteroparous). It produces a relatively high number of offspring when compared to other pontoniine species. Egg/ initial embryo numbers average 289 ± 120 (female size dependent), with ~24% loss during development.
| Ecological Descriptors | ||||
| Habitat | Size (cm) | Diet | Behaviour | Sex |
| Anemone (Co) |
2.5 | Mucus, Anemone | I Epibiotic |
F |
Sun Anemone Shrimp
Sun Anemone Shrimp
596
(C) Divepix